Buy rare fruits, veggies and plants at Heirloom Garden Show

Walking through plants taller than they are, volunteer Jack Souba explains the types of flowers and plants that were found, and are still grown, at the Garfield Farm Museum in Campton Hills. The farm has the same variety of crops, flowers, vegetables and animals that were there in the 1840s, and they will be on display Sunday at the 25th Annual Heirloom Garden Show.John Starks | Staff Photographer, 2013

Visitors walk through a vegetable garden at the 24th annual Heirloom Garden Show at the Garfield Farm Museum in Campton Hills. The farm has the same variety of crops, flowers, vegetables and animals that were there in the 1840s.John Starks | Staff Photographer, 2013

Submitted by Garfield Farm Museum

"Love Lies Bleeding" and "Kiss Me Over the Garden Gate" may sound like titles of books or songs, but in the plant world, they are vintage flowers. See these, and other vintage plants, at Garfield Farm Museum's its 25th annual Heirloom Garden Show from 11 a.m. to 4 p.m. Sunday, Aug. 24, in Campton Hills.

The show highlights the importance of preserving genetic diversity in the plants that we rely on for food, medicine, and enjoyment. It also provides Midwestern growers with an opportunity to show off and sell their favorite heirloom flowers, herbs, fruits, and vegetables to the general public.

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The chance to meet backyard gardeners, many of whom are members of the Seed Savers Exchange, a nonprofit organization that has connected plant enthusiasts from around the world, is reason enough to attend the show. SSE is a grass-roots effort that began in 1975 and is based out of Decorah, Iowa. Seed Savers receives a portion of the proceeds from the show.

Check out the Garfield Farm Museum Page on YouTube for videos from previous years' shows.

In addition to seeing the exhibitors, visitors can check out the museum's own historic flower, vegetable, and kitchen gardens. There will also be tours of the 1846 Teamster Inn and Tavern and the museum's prairie plot.

Admission is $6, $3 for children age 12 or younger. A portion of the proceeds from the show are donated to the Seed Savers Exchange.

Garfield Farm Museum is on Garfield Road, off Route 38, five miles west of Geneva. The 375-acre museum, which is supported by donations, is the only surviving historically intact former 1840s Illinois prairie farmstead and teamster inn being restored as an 1840s working farm museum. Visit garfieldfarm.org.